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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

LSC Roundup 6-8

Sorry about there not being an update yesterday. Two issues - lack of news and internet hosting problem - prevented us from posting. The dearth of news in the summer means we will at times offer full-length press releases from the schools, and search for alternative items to post.

The 6-4, 215-pound quarterback, a 2009 Harlon Hill Finalist, completed 71.3 percent of his passes for a school record 3,295 yards last season while helping the Mustangs to a Lone Star Conference championship and to their third trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Eskridge connected for another school record 29 touchdowns and threw six interceptions.

The Rockwall product who earned LSC South Offensive Back of the Year honors in 2009, led NCAA Division II with a 180.2 pass efficiency rating.

The highly decorated Eskridge was an honorable mention All-America selection by D2Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette after earning Daktronics Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year accolades last season.

Midwestern State opens its 2010 campaign at New Mexico Highlands on Thursday, Sep. 2 in Las Vegas, N.M. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Sudderth, an offensive lineman from Leonard, Texas, earned first team all-Lone Star Conference North Division honors in 2009. He will be a part of an offensive line that returns three starters in 2010.

Whitfield, a linebacker from Palestine, Texas, had a breakout season in 2009 earning Lone Star Conference North Division Linebacker of the Year and first team all-LSC North Division recognition. He also led the Lions with 111 tackles, including six-straight games of double digit tackles; plus he was third on the team with 13.5 tackles for minus yardage in 2009.

Artrell Woods can probably tell you not only the number of days but also the number of hours until the Central Oklahoma football team kicks off its season on Saturday, Aug. 28. The former OSU wide receiver has played in just five games the past three seasons, and is eager to get back on the football field. GoPokes.com recently caught up with the ex-Cowboy to talk about his college football future.

The 6-1, 205-pound Woods says he has put behind him the terrible weight-lifting accident that occurred nearly three years ago (July 13, 2007), and is looking forward to a new start since

I wish I could report that former Texas A&I All-American Johnny Bailey, who finished his career in 1989 as college football’s most prolific running back, is settling into his 40s as a productive citizen and enjoying life.

But as the adage goes, life is what it is – and not always what we want it to be.

The sad truth is that Bailey, who played six seasons in the NFL, is in a Texas prison hospital fighting an uphill battle against a killer disease.

Bailey was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April, while serving a nine-month sentence for a burglary in Harris County, and is currently a patient at Young Medical Facility in Dickinson.

“It goes to show you how fragile life can be,” said former A&I center Ed Latouf, who played four seasons with Bailey. “You just never know.”

Warren High School assistant coach Richard Cundiff was defensive coordinator at A&I when Bailey, a 1986 Houston Yates graduate, played for the Javelinas.

“I was saddened to hear about Johnny,” Cundiff said. “But he was always a fighter and I know he’ll battle this thing. He was always in a class of his own.”

Bailey, who helped lead Yates to the Class 5A state title in 1985, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

Texas A&M-Kingsville is adding one more former Rams weapon to its growing arsenal.

Recent Del Rio High School graduate John Steed has signed a letter of intent to play football at A&M-Kingsville. He’s the third member of the 2009-10 Rams varsity football team to announce their intentions to play football at the school, joining teammates Josh Washington and Cody Brooks.

Steed, the 18-year-old son of Mike and Dot Steed, said he plans on studying business with an eye on working in sports management or owning a sporting goods store.

“A&M-Kingsville has a winning tradition and it helps that there are two other people going there that I know,” Steed said. “The coaches there really made me feel like I can make something of myself there.”

Steed was one of two Rams to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing this past season as he carried the ball 176 times for 1,083 yards. He also scored 12 touchdowns. His efforts earned him an all-district first team selection. He was also an honorable mention selection at running back his junior year.